Mallika Ghanti, Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, has created a flutter by stating that one has to “take suitcase” to Vidhana Soudha to get the university’s work done, implying corruption in the corridors of power. She, however, later claimed that it was a generic comment not targeted at anyone and suitcase meant “only files”. She also said in a statement that she was being “misinterpreted”.
During a symposium on Wednesday, Ms. Ghanti said she was told by founder Vice-Chancellor Chandrashekar Kambar that Ministers used to extend full support earlier and allocate adequate funds required for the development of the university.
“But today, I myself have to go with a suitcase to get the files cleared,” she said, underlining the need for additional academic staff. A video footage of her statement soon went viral.
On the silver jubilee celebration day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised that the government would permit filling of the required number of posts in the university.
Prof. Ghanti’s allegation has irked Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi. He said he would ask her to provide evidence for the charge made against the government. Reacting to journalists’ questions on the matter in Belagavi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was unaware of the context in which the allegation was made.
Meanwhile, State BJP spokesperson S. Suresh Kumar hit out at the government for not meeting its promise of providing corruption-free governance. He said Prof. Ghanti’s remark has justified the BJP’s charge that corruption was rampant in the Siddaramaiah government.
